Integrated microchannel synthesis and separation

ABSTRACT

A process for carrying out at least two unit operations in series, the process comprising the step of: (a) directing a feed stream into an integrated assembly which comprises a first microchannel unit operation upon at least one chemical of the feed stream to generate a distributed output stream that exits the first microchannel unit operation in a first set of discrete microchannels isolating flow through the discrete microchannels; and (b) directing the distributed output stream of the first microchannel unit operation into a second microchannel unit operation as a distributed input stream, to continue isolating flow between the first set of discrete microchannels, and conducting at least one operation upon at least one chemical of the input stream to generate a product stream that exits the second microchannel unit operation, where the first microchannel unit operation and the second unit operation share a housing.

RELATED ART Field Of The Invention

The present invention is directed to equipment, and processes utilizing such equipment, for carrying out microchannel unit operations and, more specifically, to multiple microchannel unit operations integrated into a single device or assembly.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to equipment, and processes utilizing such equipment, for carrying out microchannel unit operations and, more specifically, to multiple microchannel unit operations integrated into a single device or assembly. The present invention includes synthesis chemical reactors integral with heat exchangers and optionally phase separators or other means of chemical separation. Still further, the integration of microchannel technology into multiple unit operations allows for greater plant flowsheet optimization and consolidation to reduce interconnecting piping, pressure losses, associated costs and size reduction. Moreover, the exemplary microchannel equipment may be utilized in on-shore and off-shore applications, including but not limited to where space is limited and conversion of gaseous materials to liquids is preferred for storage, handling and transportation considerations.

The present invention also includes microchannel based equipment and associated processes for carrying out various exemplary chemical reactions and separation processes including, without limitation, microchannel steam methane reforming (SMR). Utilization of microchannel based equipment results in various advantages, depending upon the process or processes carried out. For example, in an SMR process, utilization of microchannel based equipment can be operated with a lower steam to carbon ratio, which results in substantially less water requirements than traditional SMR units. This can be particularly advantageous in environments where ready supply of clean water requires expensive treatment, such as desalination. In addition, the use of a steam reformer to produce synthesis gas eliminates the need for oxygen, as required for partial oxidation or autothermal reforming. Moreover, microchannel process technology has many advantages over conventional reforming, methanol synthesis, and distillation technologies. These advantages will allow smaller, less expensive equipment to produce commercially significant quantities of methanol in on-shore and off-shore environments.

It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a process for the formation of methanol, the process comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a feed stream comprising carbon containing molecules and hydrogen containing molecules to a microchannel reactor; (b) reacting a portion of the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules within the microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a process stream; (c) removing at least some of the formed methanol molecules from the process stream; (d) reacting a further portion the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules to form methanol molecules flowing in the process stream, where greater than ninety percent of the carbon containing molecules have been reacted to form methanol.

In a more detailed embodiment of the first aspect, the method further comprises: (a2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the feed steam prior to step (b). In yet another more detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (b2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the feed steam prior to step (c). In a further detailed embodiment, the method further comprises (b2) recouping at least some of the energy generated within the microchannel reactor by thermal communication with a lower energy fluid stream within the microchannel reactor. In still a further detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (c2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the feed steam prior to step (d). In a more detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (b2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the process steam prior to step (c); and (c2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the process stream after step (c) and before step (d), where step (b2) is carried out in a first heat exchanger integrated with the microchannel reactor, and where step (c2) is carried out in a second heat exchanger integrated with the microchannel reactor. In a more detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (e) delivering a heat transfer fluid medium into thermal communication with the process stream flowing through at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. In another more detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (b2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the process steam prior to step (c); and (c2) changing at least one of temperature and pressure of the process stream after step (c) and before step (d), where step (b2) and step (c2) are carried out in a heat exchanger integrated with the microchannel reactor. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (b2) directing the process stream into a microchannel separation unit operation, where step (b) includes distributing the feed stream among a plurality of microchannels to comprise a plurality of sub-process streams, and step (b2) includes the step of maintaining separability of the sub-process streams upon entry into the microchannel separation unit operation. In still another more detailed embodiment, the method further comprising: (a2) distributing the feed stream among a plurality of microchannels of the microchannel reactor that are operative to form a plurality of sub-process streams directly conveying the feed steam to at least one unit operation.

In yet another more detailed embodiment of the first aspect, the unit operation includes at least one of a chemical reactor, a chemical separator, a heat exchanger, a compressor, an expander, a vaporizer, a condenser, a phase separator, and a mixer. In still another more detailed embodiment, the microchannel reactor of step (a) includes two separate microchannel reactors, the feed stream of step (a) is distributed among the two separate microchannel reactors, the process stream of step (b) comprises each outlet process stream from the two separate microchannel reactors, a first outlet process stream from one of the two separate microchannel reactors is fed to a downstream heat exchanger, a second outlet process stream from the other of the two separate microchannel reactors is fed to the downstream heat exchanger, in step (c) the first outlet process stream is cooled to a lower temperature within the heat exchanger to liquefy at least one of the methanol molecules and forming a gaseous phase process stream lean in methanol molecules, the second outlet process stream is in thermal communication with the gaseous phase process stream and is operative to elevate the temperature of the gaseous phase process stream. In a further detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (b2) performing a heat exchange operation between the process stream and a cooling fluid stream flowing through the microchannel reactor, where the process stream is not in fluid communication with the cooling fluid stream, where step (b2) includes distributing the process stream among a plurality of microchannels to comprise a plurality of sub-process streams, and step (b2) includes distributing the cooling fluid stream among a plurality of cooling microchannels of the microchannel reactor to comprise a plurality of sub-cooling fluid streams. In still a further detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (b2) directing the process stream into a microchannel separation unit operation; and (b3) performing a heat exchange operation between the process stream and a cooling fluid stream flowing through the microchannel separation unit operation, where the process stream is not in fluid communication with the cooling fluid stream, step (b2) includes distributing the process stream among a plurality of microchannels to comprise a plurality of sub-process streams, step (b2) includes distributing the cooling fluid stream into thermal communication with the process stream, and step (b2) includes the step of maintaining separability of the sub-process streams upon entry into the microchannel separation unit operation.

In a more detailed embodiment of the first aspect, where step (b2) includes distributing the cooling fluid stream among a plurality of cooling microchannels of the microchannel separation unit operation that are in thermal communication with the process stream. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the feed to the microchannel reactor does not include a recycle stream. In a further detailed embodiment, the microchannel reactor includes discrete stages. In still a further detailed embodiment, at least one of the discrete stages does not include a recycle stream. In a more detailed embodiment, a first stage of the discrete stages of the microchannel reactor includes a catalyst, and step (c) includes introducing the feed stream to the catalyst of the first stage for residence times between about 1000 milliseconds to about 10 milliseconds. In a more detailed embodiment, step (d) is carried out within the microchannel reactor. In another more detailed embodiment, a percentage of methanol molecules removed in step (c) from those formed in a first stage of the discrete stages is between about fifty percent to about ninety-five percent. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (f) repeating step (c) and step (d) to achieve greater than ninety percent conversion of the carbon containing molecules to form methanol, where the microchannel reactor includes discrete stages, step (d) is first carried out in a second stage of the microchannel reactor, repeated step (d) is carried out in a third stage of the microchannel reactor, downstream from the second stage of the microchannel reactor, and an operating temperature of the second stage is higher than an operating temperature of the third stage. In still another more detailed embodiment, step (a) through step (d) are carried out within a single microchannel assembly.

In yet another more detailed embodiment of the first aspect, the process produces greater than 30 kilograms of methanol molecules per day. In still another more detailed embodiment, the microchannel reactor has a displaced volume of less than 200 meters cubed per thousand metric tons of methanol per day. In a further detailed embodiment, the microchannel reactor has a displaced volume of less than 80 meters cubed per thousand metric tons of methanol per day. In still a further detailed embodiment, step (a) and step (b) are carried out within a containment vessel. In a more detailed embodiment, the feed stream includes products from a syngas generation process carried out within at least one of a steam reformer, a partial oxidation reactor, and a gasifier, and a separator interposes the syngas generation process and the microchannel reactor, the separator being operative to remove water from the stream exiting from the syngas generation process. In a more detailed embodiment, the syngas generation process is a natural gas steam reformer and includes microchannels, and the natural gas steam reforming process is carried out within the microchannels of the steam reformer. In another more detailed embodiment, the water removed by the separator is utilized to cool the microchannel reactor. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the separator is a microchannel separator, at least one output stream from the microchannel separator comprises the feed stream to the microchannel reactor, and a compressor is downstream from the microchannel separator to compress the feed stream before delivery to the microchannel reactor.

In yet another more detailed embodiment of the first aspect, the feed stream includes products from a natural gas steam reforming process carried out within a steam reformer, and a heat exchanger interposes the steam reformer and the microchannel reactor to remove energy from the products exiting the microchannel reactor. In still another more detailed embodiment. In a further detailed embodiment, the heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger, at least one output stream from the microchannel heat exchanger comprises the feed stream, and a compressor is downstream from the microchannel heat exchanger to compress the feed stream before delivery to the microchannel reactor. In still a further detailed embodiment. In a more detailed embodiment, step (c) includes utilizing at least one of a microchannel distillation unit, a capillary separation unit, and a microchannel membrane separation unit to remove at least some of the formed methanol from the process stream. In a more detailed embodiment, the carbon containing molecules and hydrogen containing molecules of the feed stream comprise syngas from at least one of a natural gas stream reforming process, a liquid-to-gasification process, and a solid-to-gasification process.

It is a second aspect of the present invention to provide a process for carrying out at least two unit operations in series, the process comprising the step of: (a) directing a feed stream into an integrated assembly which comprises a first microchannel unit operation upon at least one chemical of the feed stream to generate a distributed output stream that exits the first microchannel unit operation in a first set of discrete microchannels isolating flow through the discrete microchannels; (b) directing the distributed output stream of the first microchannel unit operation into a second microchannel unit operation as a distributed input stream, to continue isolating flow between the first set of discrete microchannels, and conducting at least one operation upon at least one chemical of the input stream to generate a product stream that exits the second microchannel unit operation, where the first microchannel unit operation and the second unit operation share a housing.

In another more detailed embodiment of the second aspect, the operation conducted upon at least one chemical of the input stream includes at least one of a chemical reactor, a chemical separator, a heat exchanger, a compressor, an expander, a vaporizer, a condenser, a phase separator, and a mixer. In still another more detailed embodiment, the first microchannel unit operation includes two parallel unit operations, comprising a first parallel unit operation and a second parallel unit operation, the feed stream is distributed among the two parallel unit operations, the distributed output stream includes separate distributed output substreams from each of the two parallel unit operations, the second microchannel operation comprises a heat exchanger, a first distributed output substream from the first parallel unit operation is fed to the heat exchanger, a second distributed output substream from the second parallel unit operation is fed to the heat exchanger, the first distributed output substream is cooled to a lower temperature within the heat exchanger to liquefy a chemical of the first distributed output substream and form a gaseous phase process stream lean in the chemical, and the second distributed output substream is in thermal communication with the gaseous phase process stream and is operative to elevate the temperature of the gaseous phase process stream. In a further detailed embodiment, the feed stream flowing through the first microchannel unit operation is split among a plurality of microchannels having a plurality of microchannel outlets from the first microchannel unit operation, the input stream flowing through the second microchannel unit operation is split among a plurality of microchannels having a plurality of microchannel inlets that receive the input stream, and an interface between first microchannel unit operation and the second microchannel unit operation connects the plurality of microchannel outlets of the first microchannel unit operation to the plurality of microchannel inlets of the second microchannel unit operation while conserving the separability of the streams flowing through the microchannels at the interface. In still a further detailed embodiment, at least one of the first microchannel unit operation and the second microchannel unit operation is fabricated using from a laminate structure. In a more detailed embodiment, the first microchannel unit operation conducts a chemical reaction, the second microchannel unit operation conducts a phase separation operation, and the chemical reaction conducted in the first microchannel unit operation is equilibrium limited. In a more detailed embodiment, the chemical reaction is at least one of methanol synthesis, ammonia synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch, acetylation, aldol condensation, alkylation, amination, dehydration, esterification, etherification, hydrolysis, isomerization, oligomerization, and transesterification.

It is a third aspect of the present invention to provide a process for the formation of methanol, the process comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a first feed stream comprising carbon containing molecules and hydrogen containing molecules to a first microchannel reactor; (b) inputting a second feed stream comprising carbon containing molecules and hydrogen containing molecules to a second microchannel reactor, where the second microchannel reactor is in parallel with the first microchannel reactor; (c) reacting the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules in the presence of a catalyst housed within the first microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a first process stream; (d) reacting the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules in the presence of a catalyst housed within the second microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a second process stream; (e) directing the first process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (f) directing the second process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (g) cooling the first process stream within the downstream heat exchanger to condense at least one chemical comprising the first process stream; (h) extracting the chemical from the first process stream to form a cooled gaseous process stream; (i) directing the second process stream into thermal communication with the cooled gaseous process stream to increase the temperature and form an elevated temperature gaseous process stream having carbon containing molecules and the hydrogen containing molecules; (j) inputting elevated temperature gaseous process stream to a downstream microchannel reactor; and (k) reacting the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules in the presence of a catalyst housed within downstream microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a downstream process stream.

It is a fourth aspect of the present invention to provide a process for the formation of methanol, the process comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a first feed stream comprising reactants to a first microchannel reactor; (b) inputting a second feed stream comprising reactants to a second microchannel reactor, where the second microchannel reactor is in parallel with the first microchannel reactor; (c) reacting at least some of the reactants in the presence of a catalyst housed within the first microchannel reactor to form product flowing in a first process stream; (d) reacting at least some of the reactants in the presence of a catalyst housed within the second microchannel reactor to form product flowing in a second process stream; (e) directing the first process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (f) directing the second process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (g) cooling the first process stream within the downstream heat exchanger to condense at least one chemical comprising the first process stream; (h) extracting the chemical from the first process stream to form a cooled gaseous process stream; (i) directing the second process stream into thermal communication with the cooled gaseous process stream to increase the temperature and form an elevated temperature gaseous process stream including remaining reactants; (j) inputting elevated temperature gaseous process stream to a downstream microchannel reactor; (k) reacting at least some of the remaining reactants in the presence of a catalyst housed within a downstream microchannel reactor to form product flowing in a downstream process stream.

In another more detailed embodiment of the fourth aspect, the feed stream to the microchannel reactor does not include a recycle stream. In still another more detailed embodiment, at least one of the first microchannel reactor and the second microchannel reactor includes discrete stages. In a further detailed embodiment, the feed stream flowing through the first microchannel reactor contacts the catalyst in step (c) between about 1000 milliseconds to about 10 milliseconds, and the feed stream flowing through the second microchannel reactor contacts the catalyst in step (d) between about 1000 milliseconds to about 10 milliseconds. In still a further detailed embodiment, the method further comprises: (l) removing at least a portion of the product from the first process stream subsequent to egress of the product from the first microchannel reactor; and (m) removing at least a portion of the product from the second process stream subsequent to egress of the product from the second microchannel reactor. In a more detailed embodiment, step (l) is at least partially carried out within a distillation unit operation, at least one output stream from the distillation unit operation is a product rich stream, and at least a second output stream from the distillation unit operation is a product lean stream. In a more detailed embodiment, at least step (c) and step (d) are carried out within a containment vessel.

In yet another more detailed embodiment of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises: (l) removing at least a portion of the product from the first process stream subsequent to egress of the product from the first microchannel reactor; and (m) delivering a fuel stream to a stream reformer unit operation to generate energy necessary to carry out an endothermic steam reformation reaction on a hydrocarbon rich stream entering the steam reformer, where step (l) is at least partially carried out in a separator that interposes the steam reformer and the first microchannel reactor, the separator being operative to remove at least one component from a fuel rich stream exiting from the steam reformer unit operation, resulting in the fuel stream delivered to the steam reformer unit operation. In still another more detailed embodiment, the at least one component includes water, and the water removed by the separator is utilized as a cooling fluid flowing through the downstream heat exchanger of the first microchannel reactor. In a further detailed embodiment, the first feed stream is supplied by a natural gas steam reforming process carried out within a steam reformer, and a heat exchanger interposes the steam reformer and the first microchannel reactor to remove energy from the first feed stream prior to entering the first microchannel reactor. In still a further detailed embodiment, the chemical of step (h) includes methanol, and step (h) includes utilization of at least one of a microchannel distillation unit, a capillary separation unit, and a microchannel membrane separation unit to remove at least some of the chemical from the first process stream. In a more detailed embodiment, the reactants of the first feed stream comprise syngas from a natural gas stream reforming process.

It is a fifth aspect of the present invention to provide a process for the formation of methanol, the process comprising: (a) inputting a hydrocarbon feed stream to a steam reformation reactor that houses a first catalyst; (b) bringing steam into communication with the hydrocarbon feed stream; (c) reacting hydrocarbons of the hydrocarbon feed stream with steam in the presence of a catalyst to form a syngas stream comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; (d) inputting the syngas stream to a staged microchannel methanol synthesis reactor that houses a second catalyst; (e) reacting the syngas in the presence of the second catalyst within the microchannel synthesis reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a reactant and product stream, where greater than ninety percent of the carbon containing molecules of the syngas, on a carbon basis, are converted into methanol molecules synthesized within the staged microchannel methanol synthesis reactor, where the staged microchannel reactor includes at least three stages, and methanol molecules are removed from the reactant and product stream between at least two of the three stages.

In another more detailed embodiment of the fifth aspect, at least two of the three stages are interposed by unit operation comprising at least one of a microchannel heat exchanger and a microchannel phase separator, and the unit operation receives an output stream from an immediately upstream stage, where the output stream microchannels flow directly into the microchannels of the unit operation. In still another more detailed embodiment, greater than fifty percent of the carbon containing molecules of the syngas, on a carbon basis, are converted into methanol molecules synthesized at the end of the first stage. In a further detailed embodiment, greater than seventy-five percent of the carbon containing molecules of the syngas, on a carbon basis, are converted into methanol molecules synthesized at the end of the second stage. In still a further detailed embodiment, the steam reformation reactor includes a microchannel steam reformation reactor.

It is a sixth aspect of the present invention to provide an integrated microchannel reactor and separator comprising: (a) a first network of microchannels housing a first catalyst to facilitate at least one of a molecular cracking reaction or a molecular synthesis reaction; (b) a second network of microchannels downstream from the first network of microchannels, the second network of microchannels include micropores operative to separate extract at least one of a liquid and a gas flowing through the second network of microchannels, where an interface between the first network of microchannels and the second network of microchannels involves a pressure drop change of less than fifty percent; (c) a third network of microchannels housing a second catalyst to facilitate at least one of a molecular cracking reaction or a molecular synthesis reaction, the first network of microchannels being downstream from the second network of microchannels, where an interface between the second network of microchannels and the third network of microchannels involves a pressure drop change of less than fifty percent; and (d) a fourth network of microchannels downstream from the third network of microchannels, the fourth network of microchannels include micropores operative to separate extract at least one of a liquid and a gas flowing through the fourth network of microchannels, where an interface between the third network of microchannels and the fourth network of microchannels involves a pressure drop change of less than fifty percent.

In another more detailed embodiment of the sixth aspect, an interface between the second network of microchannels and the third network of microchannels involves a pressure drop change of less than fifty percent. In still another more detailed embodiment, an interface between the third network of microchannels and the fourth network of microchannels involves a pressure drop change of less than fifty percent. In a further detailed embodiment, the first catalyst at least one of lines or packs at least a portion of the first network of microchannels, and the second catalyst at least one of lines or packs at least a portion of the third network of microchannels. In still a further detailed embodiment, the pressure drop change of less than fifty percent is at least partially a result of avoiding consolidation of the microchannels comprising the first microchannel network approximate the interface between the first and second network of microchannels, and fewer than seventy-five percent of the microchannels of the first microchannel network are consolidated approximate the interface between the first and second network of microchannels. In a more detailed embodiment, the pressure drop change of less than fifty percent between the second and third microchannel networks is at least partially a result of avoiding consolidation of the microchannels comprising the second microchannel network approximate the interface between the second and third network of microchannels, and fewer than seventy-five percent of the microchannels of the second microchannel network are consolidated approximate the interface between the second and third network of microchannels. In a more detailed embodiment, the pressure drop change of less than fifty percent between the third and fourth microchannel networks is at least partially a result of avoiding consolidation of the microchannels comprising the third microchannel network approximate the interface between the third and fourth network of microchannels, and fewer than seventy-five percent of the microchannels of the third microchannel network are consolidated approximate the interface between the third and fourth network of microchannels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram of an exemplary plant layout in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary isolated cross-sectional view of an exemplary heat exchanger and phase separator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary heat exchanger and phase separator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary exploded view of a unit operation made from laminates and useful for heat exchangers, chemical reactors, phase separations, other separations, fluid manifolding or distribution, mixing among others;

FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of an assembled unit operation made from a wave form and laminates and used in an exemplary methanol synthesis reactor with integral heat exchangers in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an exemplary unit operation made from a combination of a waveform channel and laminates and useful for a methanol synthesis reactor, an Fischer Tropsch reactor, an adsorbed unit, an absorber, a heat exchanger or any other unit operation;

FIG. 7 is a prior art microchannel manifold where fluids combine from multiple parallel channels into a common outlet or a reduced number of outlets;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary interface between microchannel unit operations or sections of a microchannel unit operation;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary interface between microchannel unit operations or sections of a microchannel unit operation;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary interface between microchannel unit operations or sections of a microchannel unit operation;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth exemplary interface between microchannel unit operations or sections of a microchannel unit operation;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary integrated unit operation comprising microchannel heat exchangers, parallel reactors, and common condensers;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary isolated cross-sectional view of a second exemplary heat exchanger and phase separator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a partial exploded view of a first exemplary common condenser of an integrated microchannel unit operation in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial exploded view of a second exemplary common condenser of an integrated microchannel unit operation in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram representative of the flow through an exemplary condenser for use in the instant invention;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary deck layout for 1,000 metric tons per day offshore methanol synthesis plant; and

FIG. 18 is an elevated perspective view of an integrated microchannel unit housing multiple unit operations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass equipment, and processes utilizing such equipment, for carrying out microchannel unit operations. As used herein, the term microchannel refers to any conduit having at least one dimension (height, length, or width) (wall-to-wall, not counting catalyst) of 1 cm or less, including 2 mm or less (in some embodiments about 1.0 mm or less) and greater than 100 nm (preferably greater than 1 μm), and in some embodiments 50 to 500 μm. Microchannels are also defined by the presence of at least one inlet that is distinct from at least one outlet. Microchannels are not merely channels through zeolites or mesoporous materials. The length of a microchannel corresponds to the direction of flow through the microchannel. Microchannel height and width are substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of through the channel. In the case of a laminated device where a microchannel has two major surfaces (for example, surfaces formed by stacked and bonded sheets), the height is the distance from major surface to major surface and width is perpendicular to height. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments discussed below are illustrative in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiments as discussed below may include optional steps, methods, and features that one of ordinary skill should recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention.

For purposes of this disclosure, an “assembly” is a containment vessel that contains one or more microchannel unit operations that operate in parallel (if more than 1 unit). Fluid flow is to the units and discharged by way of the effluent streams of each unit.

For purposes of the disclosure, a “unit operation” includes equipment operative to conduct one of more of the following: chemical reactions; chemical separations (including absorption, distillation, adsorbing, extraction); heat exchange; compressing; expanding; vaporizing; condensing; phase separation; and mixing.

For purposes of the disclosure, a “waveform” is a contiguous piece of thermally conductive material that is transformed from a planar object to a 3-dimensional object that at least partially defines one or more microchannels. The waveform may have a gap between the waves that is in the microchannel dimension or may be larger. In exemplary form, this gap may be in the microchannel dimension because then heat is easily transferred to the long direction in the wave that separates the heat transfer channels before conducting down the more conductive wave form to the heat transfer channels. The waveform may be made of copper, aluminum, metals, oxides, or other materials with a thermal conductivity greater than 1 W/m-K.

Referencing FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment comprises a compact microchannel plant 100, suitable for installation in an on-shore or off-shore application, that includes a microchannel steam reformer 102 and a downstream methanol synthesis reactor 104. The exemplary microchannel plant 100 may include the following salient features which make it particularly advantageous for off-shore applications: 1) its compact hardware with a reduced number of discrete components to minimize deck space; 2) short distillation towers to accommodate for vessel sway; 3) minimal requirements for freshwater; and 4) competitive carbon efficiency and overall economics. It is to be understood, however, that embodiments having less than all of these features may nonetheless fall within the scope of the present invention.

An exemplary application where the microchannel plant 100 is particularly suited is off-shore conversion of natural gas to liquid methanol. In this application, natural gas is converted to synthesis gas (hereafter referred to as “syngas” which predominantly comprises carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases, as well as water) within the microchannel steam reformer 102 using a process commonly known as steam reformation. However, it is also within the scope of the invention use processes to form syngas including, without limitation, gasifying solids such as coal, biomass, industrial wastes, municipal solid waste, sewage sludge(s), petroleum coke, tar sands or bitumen, or gasifying liquids such as naphtha, residual oil(s), LNG, LPG. Nevertheless, for purposes of brevity, the exemplary embodiments for the syngas production have been described as including a steam reformation process. Steam reformation is an endothermic reaction where natural gas (methane, ethane, propane, etc.) is mixed with steam and reacted at high temperatures (700-1000 C) in the presence of a catalyst facilitating chemical reactions between the natural gas molecules and water molecules to produce syngas. Designs of exemplary microchannel steam reformer reactors and variations thereof have been described previously in publications US2004/0031592 by Mathias et al., US2004/0033455 by Tonkovich et al., US2005/0087767 by Fitzgerald et al., and US2005/0175519 by Rogers et al., the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated to the instant disclosure by reference.

Outputs from the microchannel steam reformer 102 include a syngas stream and an exhaust stream from heat transfer microchannels in thermal communication with the microchannels carrying the syngas stream and precursor reactant stream. The exhaust stream comprises the products from an exothermic reaction carried out within the heat transfer microchannels, such as combustion, that transfer energy to the microchannels carrying the syngas and any precursor reactants to supply sufficient activation energy to carry out the stream reforming reaction. It is to be understood, however, that in lieu of an exothermic reaction taking place within the heat transfer microchannels, it is within the scope of the invention to convey superheated fluids therethrough operative as a heat or energy source to drive the steam reformation reaction.

Where overall freshwater retention is an important consideration for plant 100 operation, such as in off-shore applications, a collection unit operation 117 receives the exhaust gas stream and is operative to remove at least some of the water from the exhaust stream and recycle the water to one or more unit operations (such as 102) throughout the plant 100. It is to be understood that collection of water from the exhaust effluent is optional, however, and reduces the total amount of freshwater needing to be obtained on a recurring basis, such as a desalination unit, for plant 100 operation. As will be discussed in more detail later, the fuel is supplied to the steam reformer 102 from an outlet stream of a distillation unit 118 downstream from the methanol synthesis reactor 104.

Referencing FIGS. 1 and 2, a microchannel heat exchanger and phase separator 130 is downstream from the stream reformer 102 and includes three sets of microchannels 132, 134, 136. The first set of microchannels 132 carries a cooling fluid, for example, liquid water from a distillation unit 118, into thermal communication with the second set of microchannels 134 carrying the wet syngas product (two-phase). The enthalpy gradient between the cooling fluid and the wet syngas product is such that energy is transferred from the wet syngas product to the cooling fluid, resulting in condensation of the water component within the wet syngas product flowing through the second set of microchannels 134. The direction of flow of cooling fluid may be co-current, counter-current, or cross-flow with respect to the direction of flow of the two-phase wet syngas product. Condensed water from the second set of microchannels 134 is carried away using the third set of microchannels 136. The water flowing through the third set of microchannels 136 is fed to the methanol synthesis reactor 104 and operates within the reactor 104 as a heat transfer fluid. A downstream portion of the second set of microchannels 134 delivers the relatively dry syngas product at approximately 20 bar from the microchannel heat exchanger and phase separator 130 to the methanol synthesis reactor 104 or to an optional compressor 140. In this exemplary embodiment, the compressor 140 pressurizes the dry syngas product from approximately 20 bar to approximately 50 bar or higher for entry into the methanol synthesis reactor 104. It is to be understood, however, that the compressor 140 is not a required piece of equipment and may be omitted under certain operating conditions.

Synthesis of methanol is strongly equilibrium limited and occurs by reacting the dry syngas product, in the presence of a catalyst, to form methanol. This reaction is exothermic and is represented below as Equation set (1): CO+2 H₂→CH₃OH; Delta H_((300K))=−90.77 kJ/mol CO₂+3 H₂→CH₃OH+H₂O; Delta H_((300K))=−49.16 kJ/mol  (1) (Reference: Uhlmann's, “Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry”)

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the methanol synthesis reactor 104 includes a first network of microchannels 142 within a preheating section 148 that receive the dry syngas product directly from the separator 130 or from the compressor 140, when optionally utilized. Distribution of the pressurized syngas product via the microchannel network 142 brings the syngas product into thermal communication with a heat transfer medium, such as steam, flowing through a second network of microchannels 150 of the preheating section 148 of the reactor 104. Dry syngas product flows through the microchannel network 142 of the preheating section 148 (see FIG. 4) and into reaction microchannels 154 without utilization of a prior art manifolds. As will be discussed in more detail later, the heat transfer medium may be supplied to the second network of microchannels 150 by a recycle stream within the methanol synthesis reactor 104 that forms or carries steam into thermal communication with at least a portion of the synthesis microchannels where methanol synthesis is occurring to carry away a portion of the exothermic energy generated as a result of methanol synthesis.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a first reactor stage 152 immediately follows the preheating section 148 and includes the reaction microchannels 154 introducing the syngas reactants to the synthesis catalyst. In this exemplary embodiment, the synthesis catalyst may be packed within the microchannels, lined along the walls of the microchannels, or otherwise configured within or grown within the microchannels of the first reactor stage 152. A grown catalyst includes one that includes a precursor in liquid solution or suspension that reacts, plates, crosslinks, or otherwise forms porous connections between the channel walls. The porosity may be macroporous, mesoporous, or microporous, or any combination of the three. A second set of microchannels 158 of the first reactor stage 152 are in thermal communication with the reaction microchannels 154 and convey a fluid heat transfer medium. In exemplary form, this medium is water that is partially boiled by the thermal energy generated in the exothermic synthesis of methanol to provide steam to various parts of the plant 100. The flow rate of the water through the microchannels 158 is precisely controlled to provide a reaction section that is essentially isothermal. By precisely controlling the pressure, temperature, reactions, and flowrates through the microchannels 154, the synthesis reactions may be maintained within a tight temperature tolerance, generally within ±40° C., or more preferably ±15° C., or even more preferably ±5° C.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a first cooling stage 162 immediately follows the first reactor stage 152 and includes two sets of distributed microchannels 164, 166. The first set of microchannels 164 conveys the methanol and remaining syngas reactants from the first reactor stage 152, while the second set of microchannels 166 conveys a cooling fluid into thermal communication with the methanol and remaining syngas reactants. The direction of flow of cooling fluid may be co-current, counter-current, or cross-flow with respect to the direction of flow of the two-phase mixture.

The enthalpy difference between the synthesis stream (syngas reactants and methanol) flowing through the first set of microchannels 164 and the cooling fluid flowing through the second set of microchannels 166 is such that energy is transferred from the synthesis stream to the cooling fluid, thereby lowing the temperature of the synthesis stream. In this exemplary embodiment, the cooling fluid is water that at least partially vaporizes to produce a two-phase stream as a result of heat transfer from higher temperature methanol synthesis stream. The steam generated in the first set of microchannels 164 may be utilized as a steam input to the microchannel steam reformer 102.

Referring to FIG. 7, conventional microchannel unit operations suffer from additional pressure drop as a result of manifolds 400 in series with the microchannels 402 distributed therein. These manifolds 400 were utilized in order establish fluid communication between a microchannel unit operation and another microchannel unit operation or a conventional unit operation. Manifolds 400 traditionally operate to consolidate numerous microchannels for exit from a microchannel unit operation or distribute a consolidated flow among a group of microchannels 402. This consolidation and distribution results in substantial pressure losses as fluid flows are impeded and eddy losses are increased. To overcome this undesirable pressure loss, the instant invention makes use of conservation of microchannels, which reduces the number of streams consolidated or resulting from distribution.

Referencing to FIG. 8-11, the present invention does not require use of manifolds between microchannel unit operations. In exemplary form, multiple output streams from a first unit operation or section of a unit operation 502 are fed to a similar number or equal number of inlet channels in a downstream unit operation or section of a downstream unit operation 504. This interface between unit operations or sections of the same unit operation is referred to as conservation of microchannels. Using conservation of microchannels, the flow does not substantially turn or move in an orthogonal direction to the flow path in the first unit operation or section as it enters a downstream unit operation or section. The resulting pressure loss in the connection between the first and downstream unit operation or section may be less than 10% of the pressure loss experienced using prior art manifold designs. Exemplary structures embodying conservation of microchannels between microchannel unit operations or unit operation sections are shown in FIGS. 8-11.

Referring to FIG. 12, the production of methanol is dependent upon the concentration of methanol within the system, the pressure of the system, the temperature of the system, and residence time the syngas reactants are in contact with the synthesis catalyst. An isopotential microchannel reactor 104, or parallel isopotential microchannel reactors 104, are exemplary ways to achieve a high single-pass conversion for an equilibrium limited reaction, such as methanol synthesis. If the temperature is dropped along the length of the reactor, the equilibrium potential for conversion is increased. In exemplary form, a three-stage series reactor 104 is constructed within a single reactor module, with the volume and temperatures being optimized based on the kinetics of a commercial methanol synthesis catalyst to minimize total reactor volume and contact time for the required inlet flowrate. Contact time is defined by the total reactor volume inclusive of a particulate form catalyst divided by the total volumetric flowrate of reactants at standard conditions. In the foregoing synthesis reactor 104, a contact time of 750 milliseconds gives a total CO conversion of 70.5% in the three-stage reactor.

The exemplary methanol synthesis microchannel reactor 104 incorporates cross flow of process fluids and heat exchange fluids. Three distinct reaction zones are designed down the length of the reactor 200, 202, 204. The first reaction zone 200 is 20% of the total reaction channel length, or 0.2 m of a 1-m length channel. The second reaction zone 202 extends 0.3 m of a 1-m length channel to the midpoint of the channel length. The third and final reaction zone 204 extends from the midpoint (0.5 m) to the channel end. The repeating unit geometry of the methanol synthesis microchannel reactor 104 is shown in FIG. 3. The design increases the ratio of the total catalyst volume per reactor to the total reactor volume to greater than 70%. This high catalyst volume ratio offsets the longer reaction times for methanol synthesis as compared to steam methane reforming and generates a modest number of reactor assemblies. Based on these design dimensions, a total of 9 assemblies are required for 500 metric tons of methanol per day. Each methanol synthesis assembly is 1 m (wide)×1.2 m (high) by 3.9 m long—identical to the size of the steam methane reformer assembly. The resulting stack height of three assemblies is less than 7 m.

Referencing FIGS. 4, 12 and 13, higher concentrations of methanol within the reaction microchannels 154 housing the catalyst (not shown) decrease the frequency of reactions converting syngas to methanol because the reaction is equilibrium limited, thereby lowering the overall conversion of syngas products to methanol on a carbon conversion basis. In this manner, it is advantageous to reduce the concentration of methanol within the syngas stream. An integral microchannel heat exchanger and condenser 170 immediately follows the first cooling stage 162 and includes three sets of microchannels 174, 176, 178. The first set of microchannels 174 is downstream from the cooling microchannels 164 and conveys a decreased temperature synthesis stream into thermal communication with a cooling fluid flowing through the second set of microchannels 176 to lower the temperature of the methanol product below its boiling temperature. In this exemplary condenser 170, the cooling fluid is liquid water. This results in two-phase synthesis stream comprising methanol and unreacted syngas, as well as some by-product water. The first set of microchannels 174 convey the two-phase stream into communication with a capillary exclusion section 138.

Referring to FIG. 13, liquid capture (whether water or methanol) in the microchannel plant 100 is based on the principle of capillary exclusion. An exemplary capillary exclusion section 138 includes with a material with small pores 210 that bridges otherwise adjacent microchannels 174, 178. The pressure at P1 on one side of the small pores 210 is greater than P2 on the opposing side of the pores. Thus, when liquid comes in contact with the pores 210, the capillary pressure is greater than the breakthrough pressure of the gases, thereby forcing the liquid through the pores 210 and into the outlet microchannels 178. For circular pores, this relationship is show by Equation 2 below:

$\begin{matrix} {P_{1} \leq {P_{2} + \frac{2\sigma}{r}}} & (2) \end{matrix}$ where: σ=surface tension between the gas and liquid phases

-   -   r=the radius of a single pore         Pores of any shape may be used, which may require Equation (2)         to be modified to an equivalent expression using hydraulic         radius. Nevertheless, condensed methanol in the third set of         microchannels 178 is carried away from the capillary exclusion         section 138 and conveyed to the methanol distillation unit 118.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, parallel reactors 104A, 104B may be configured to feed a vapor stream comprising methanol, unreacted syngas, and synthesis reaction by-products (“product stream”) to a common microchannel heat exchanger and condenser 170. A first end plate 300 of the condenser 170 provides openings 302A, 302B therethrough for receiving the product streams from the respective first cooling stages 162A, 162B of the parallel reactors 104A, 104B. Arrow A and Arrow B represent the fluid flow of the product streams through the condenser 170. A second plate 304 adjacent to the first plate 300 includes microchannels 306A, 306B for receiving the product stream flowing through the openings 302A, 302B of the first plate at the far ends. The product stream flows along these microchannels 306A, 306B and is cooled by a cooling fluid (not shown) flowing through adjacent microchannel formed in an adjacent plate (not shown) to condense at least some of the methanol out of product stream vapor phase. A third plate 308 includes openings 310A, 310B therethrough that align with openings 312A, 312B through the second plate to deliver the two-phase product mixture to another set of microchannels 314A, 314B formed in a fourth plate 316 that includes capillary exclusion sections 318A, 318B, where the liquid phase is withdrawn through aligned microchannels 320A, 320B of a fifth plate 322. Openings 324A, 324B through a sixth plate 326 is aligned with the microchannels 320A, 320B of a fifth plate 322 and conveys the liquid products to distillation unit (not shown). The relatively dry gaseous product flowing through the microchannels 314A and 314B are recuperatively heated prior to entry of the gaseous components to the second reactor stage 202 using openings 328A, 328B, 330A, 330B. The primary difference between FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 is that the FIG. 15 shows a chiral embodiment, which is particularly advantageous when using recuperative heat exchange in the microchannel heat exchanger and condenser 170.

Referring to FIG. 16, an exemplary flow diagram is shown for parallel reactors 104A, 104B where recuperative heat exchange is utilized. Recuperative heat exchange involves heating the outlet gaseous stream from the microchannel heat exchanger and condenser 170 using the incoming warm stream from the first cooling stage 162. In this manner, energy from the warm stream from the first cooling stage is exchanged with the outlet gaseous stream to increase the enthalpy of this steam. This increased enthalpy is advantageous to bring about favorable reaction kinetics for increased conversion of syngas to methanol.

Referencing again FIG. 12, a second reactor stage 202 is immediately downstream from the microchannel heat exchanger and condenser 170. The microchannels of the second reactor stage 202 directly receive the gaseous reactants (syngas) from the heat exchanger and condenser 170 and introduce these reactants to a synthesis catalyst that may be packed within the microchannels, lined along the walls of the microchannels, or otherwise configured within or grown within the microchannels of the second stage 202. A grown catalyst includes one that includes a precursor in liquid solution or suspension that reacts, plates, crosslinks, or otherwise forms porous connections between the channel walls. The porosity may be macroporous, mesoporous, or microporous, or any combination of the three. As discussed previously, methanol synthesis is equilibrium dependent and withdrawal of the methanol in the condenser 170 drops the methanol concentration in the microchannels 202 that is operative to increase the frequency of reactions between the remaining syngas reactants, thereby increasing the overall conversion of syngas products to methanol on a carbon conversion basis.

A second heat exchanger and condenser 190 includes three sets of microchannels (not shown) similar to those of the first heat exchanger and condenser 170 of FIG. 13. The first set of microchannels carries a liquid water from into thermal communication with the second set of microchannels carrying the products from the second reactor stage 202. The enthalpy difference between the products and the water is such that energy is transferred from the products to the liquid water, resulting in condensation of the methanol component within the products flowing through the second set of microchannels. Condensed methanol and by-product process condensate/water from the second set of microchannels is carried away using the third set of microchannels and conveyed to the methanol distillation unit 118. The warm water produced from the heat transfer microchannels may be used to heat other process streams in the plant 100, while the remaining gaseous components of the second set of microchannels are fed to a third reactor stage 204.

A third reactor stage 204 immediately downstream from the second heat exchanger and condenser 190 includes distributed microchannels that receive the gaseous reactants (syngas) from the second heat exchanger and condenser 190 and introduce these products to a synthesis catalyst that may be packed within the microchannels, lined along the walls of the microchannels, or otherwise configured within the microchannels. As discussed previously, methanol synthesis is equilibrium dependent and withdrawal of the methanol in the condenser 190 drops the methanol concentration in the microchannels, which is operative to increase the frequency of reactions between the remaining syngas reactants, thereby increasing the overall conversion of syngas reactants to methanol on a carbon conversion basis approximating 90%. It is to be understood that this third reactor stage 204 is optional and may not necessarily be utilized in all applications.

A third heat exchanger and condenser 194 includes three sets of microchannels (not shown) similar to those of the first heat exchanger and condenser 170 of FIG. 13. The first set of microchannels carries liquid water into thermal communication with the second set of microchannels carrying the products from the third reactor stage 204. The enthalpy difference between the products and the water is such that energy is transferred from the products to the liquid water, resulting in condensation of the methanol component within the products flowing through the second set of microchannels. Condensed methanol from the second set of microchannels is carried away using the third set of microchannels and conveyed to the methanol distillation unit 118. The warm water produced in the first set of microchannels is utilized in the plant 100 as a preheating fluid or steam precursor, while the remaining gaseous components (remaining syngas reactants and byproducts) within the steam reformer 102. Using microchannel heat exchangers with embedded phase separation channels, the methanol synthesis section for a plant capacity of 1000 metric tons of methanol per day is sized to fit within one assembly 104 of roughly 1 m (wide)×1.2 m (high)×3.9 m (long). Exemplary microchannel apparatus size ranges for a methanol synthesis reactor 104 of less than 200 m³ per thousand metric tons of methanol per day, or more preferably less than 80 m³ per thousand metric tons of methanol per day, or even more preferably less than 10 m³ per thousand metric tons of methanol per day.

Referring to FIG. 1, the methanol distillation unit 118 is operated under pressure to improve thermal integration for the overall plant 100. The range of temperatures for the 48-bar distillation unit is from 200° C. to 242° C. This compares to a distillation temperature range of 80 to 120 C at ambient pressure. The non-condensable gas stream is separated from the liquid before entering the 20-stage microchannel distillation unit 118 against a counterflow of liquid and gas. Methanol is recovered from the top sidestream of the distillation unit with a purity greater than 95%, and water is recovered from the bottom of the unit with a purity greater than 99%. The water is recycled to the coolant of the methanol synthesis reactor 104 before moving to the steam reformer 102 feed stream. The methanol distillation unit 118 uses 6 microchannel assemblies, where each assembly is 1.2 m (high) by 1 m (wide) by 3.9 m (long).

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments discussed above, ranges for methanol product purity are between 80-90%, and preferably between 95% to greater than 99%. Ranges for water purity are between 80-90%, and preferably between 95% to greater than 99%. Moreover, ranges for methanol distillation unit volume productivity are between 10 to 25 m³ per thousand metric tons of methanol per day, and preferably between 25 to greater than 100 m³ per thousand metric tons of methanol per day. Still further, ranges for water recycle are 25-50%, and preferably between 50% to greater than 65%.

While the exemplary distillation unit 118 has been described for distillation of methanol, other compositions could likewise be produced by the plant 100 and distilled to achieve the desired purity of products generated by other chemical reaction processes. For example, the distillation unit may be adapted to function as fractionator for separating hydrocarbons, including mixtures comprising at least one of the following types of compounds: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, naphthalenes and other ringed compounds, aromatics, and oxygenates, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, carboxylic acids, and nitrites. The distillation unit may also separate mixtures comprising inorganic compounds or naturally-derived substances. The fractionator may separate close-boiling compounds, such as an ethane-ethylene fractionator or a hexane-cyclohexane separator. In exemplary form, a liquid inlet streaming containing 84% hexane and 16% cyclohexane and a vapor inlet stream comprising 9% hexane and 91% cyclohexane. The outlet liquid product stream was removed at a point slightly below the inlet vapor stream and contained 7% hexane and 93% cyclohexane. The channel generated 15 equilibrium stages in a 5-inch channel length. The temperature range over the unit varied from 69° C. to 83° C. The relative volatilities of ethane-ethylene and cyclohexane-hexane (reference ChemCAD® 5.5.0 component library) are significantly more challenging than water and methanol.

The estimation of height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) as shown in Equation 2 is based on balancing the convection time and diffusion time within a microchannel. The characteristic time for convection in a single stage is defined by the stage length divided by the average fluid velocity. The characteristic time for diffusion in a single stage is defined by the square of the diffusion distance divided by the fluid diffusivity. Setting the two characteristic times equal allows solving for a simple estimate of the required HETP for phase equilibration. Similar methodologies have proven successful for diffusion to catalytic walls in chemical reactions, and by analogy were evaluated for distillation.

$\begin{matrix} {{\frac{{vel}_{vap} \cdot t_{vap}^{2}}{{??}_{{AB}_{vap}}} \propto {HETP}_{vap}} = {{HETP}_{liq} \propto \frac{{vel}_{liq} \cdot t_{film}^{2}}{{??}_{{AB}_{liq}}}}} & (2) \end{matrix}$

Microchannel distillation is described in US 2006/0016216 by Tonkovich et al and is incorporated herein by reference. In microchannel distillation experiments for cyclohexane-hexane separation using the apparatus described in US 2006/0016216, a liquid film of 0.178 mm was created by flowing liquid over a woven stainless steel mesh adjacent to a 1.35 millimeter (mm) gas channel. The liquid velocity was 1 mm/second (s) and the liquid diffusivity was 5×10⁻⁵ cm²/s. The resulting predicted HETP for the liquid side was on the order of 0.63 cm, using Equation 2. The gas phase diffusivity was 0.0342 cm²/s, the average gas velocity was 0.015 m/s, and the gaseous channel gap was 1.35 mm. The resulting predicted gas phase HETP was 0.8 cm. It was somewhat surprising that the predicted HETP in the gas phase was higher than the liquid phase, which demonstrates the importance of balancing the channel design for both fluids. Based on the change in composition, the experimental HETP was calculated at 0.83 cm. Additional experiments performed at higher velocities confirmed that the HETP was roughly inversely proportional to velocity. This is remarkable agreement for an approximate prediction of HETP and is considered a good qualitative predictor of HETP in other microchannel distillation units.

An HETP of 1 cm is utilized for the design basis of a methanol distillation unit based on the separation principles where HETP for a thin liquid film in contact with a thin gaseous film is approximated by Equation 2. However, other HETP could be utilized such as, without limitation, less than 5 cm, less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm, and less than 0.1 cm. For a film thickness of 25 microns and a velocity of 0.015 m/s, the HETP approaches 1 cm. The gaseous channel has a predicted HETP less than 0.1 cm by maintaining a gas-to-liquid channel gap ratio less than 10. By doing so, the square of the diffusion distance in the gas channel is more than offset by the three orders of magnitude reduction in the gas phase diffusivity over that in the liquid phase. HETP can be utilized to describe the efficiency of gas-liquid contacting unit operations such as distillation and absorption. Preferred ranges of HETP for this invention are less than 10 cm, or less than 5 cm, or less than 1 cm, or less than 0.5 cm.

Water co-produced with methanol inside the synthesis reactor 104 is subsequently removed from the methanol through a pressurized microchannel distillation unit 118. Methanol is purified to greater than 95% and discharged from the distillation unit 1118 via a purified product conduit 198. Water from the distillation unit 118 is routed to the microchannel heat exchanger and phase separator 130.

Water is recycled within the plant 100 for the synthesis reactor 104 from three sources: from the wet syngas stream, from the methanol distillation unit 1118, and optionally from the combustion exhaust stream. It is expected that the small amounts of reaction byproducts, such as alcohols, hydrocarbons, ethers, etc., in the water stream are readily reformed in the microchannel steam reformer 102 which alleviates build-up in the water recycle.

A computer simulation was utilized to scale up the plant 100 to produce 1,000 metric tons per day of methanol. For this case, each reaction section is held at the temperature and pressure condition provided in Table II. This case does not include methanol condensate removal integral with the methanol reactor unit and the corresponding temperature reduction for phase separation and recuperative heat exchange. Table I details the flow rates and heat duties of the major unit operations. For example, the total water fed to the microchannel steam reformer 102 is 39.9 metric tons/hour. Of this, only 23.3 metric tons/hour are from an independent water source because of the water capture and reuse within the system. If the water from the exhaust of the steam reformer 102 is also captured, the total amount of freshwater required would be 16.4 metric tons/hour This represents a net reduction in the total water required of 65%.

TABLE I Mass Heat Unit Pressure flow Duty Section operation Stream Temperature C. (bar) (kg/hr) (MW) Reforming Reformer Air inlet 129 2.1 161202 Section Fuel inlet 28 2.1 15657 Exhaust 250 1 176859 Feed (2:1 S:C) 201 23.5 119574 inlet Product outlet 300 21.9 119574 reaction 900 22 113 conditions Methanol Reactor Feed inlet 222 50 83497 Synthesis Product outlet 190 48.8 83497 Section Water - section 1 114497 29 Water - section 2 19216 5 Water - section 3 17415 4 Subtotal water 103 35 151127 38 Distillation Distillation Feed inlet 30 48.5 47222 Section Unit Methanol Outlet 200 48 43860 Phase Water Outlet 242 49 1330 Separation Inlet 30 48.5 83497 with HX Gas 30 48.5 36275 Liquid 30 48.5 47222 Product In 300 21.9 119573 Water Product HX & Water Inlet 96 25 36564 Capture Heat (from Section exchanger distillation) Water outlet (to 188 24.7 36564 reactor) Product Out to 198 21 119573 compressor 10 Reforming Reformer Air inlet 129 2.1 161202 Section Fuel inlet 28 2.1 15657 Exhaust 250 1 176859

Table II details the temperature, pressure, volume, and heat duty associated with each section of the exemplary three-section synthesis reactor 104.

TABLE II Relative Volume Heat Duty Zone Temperature (C.) Pressure (bar) (%) (MW) 1 250 49.7 20 57 2 220 49.3 30 9.6 3 200 49.2 50 8.7

A second computer simulation was utilized to scale up the plant 100 to produce 1,000 metric tons per day of methanol. In this case, each of the reactor sections were maintained at a temperature of 250 C and a pressure decreasing from 50 bar at the first stage inlet to 48.8 bar at the third stage outlet. Methanol condensate removal and recuperative heat exchange was incorporated between reaction stages. Table III details the flow rates and heat duties of the major unit operations. For example, the total water fed to the microchannel steam reformer 102 is 56.6 metric tons/hour. Of this, only 33 metric tons/hour are from an independent water source because of the water capture and reuse within the system. If the water from the exhaust of the stream reformer 102 is also captured, the total amount of freshwater required would be 23.2 metric tons/hour. This represents a net reduction in the total water required of 65%.

TABLE III Unit Temperature Pressure Mass flow Heat Duty Section operation Stream (C.) (bar) (kg/hr) (MW) Reforming Reformer Air inlet #230 129 2.1 151000 Section Fuel inlet #240 40 2.1 14225 Exhaust #252 252 1 165225 Feed (2:1 S:C) 201 23.5 113315 Inlet Product outlet 300 21.9 113315 At reaction 900 22 113 Conditions Methanol Reactor Feed inlet 222 50 80704 Synthesis Section Product Outlet 190 48.8 80704 Steam Generated - Section 1 240 240 33 55250 23.5 Steam Generated - Section 2 240 240 33 19800 7.9 Steam Generated - Section 3 240 240 33 9480 3.8 Subtotal - Steam Generated 84550 Purge Gas #33 30413

A third computer simulation was utilized to scale up the plant 100 to produce 1,000 metric tons per day of methanol. In this case, each of the reactor sections were maintained at a temperature of 240 C and a pressure of 33 bar. Methanol condensate removal and recuperative heat exchange was incorporated between reaction stages. Table IV details the flow rates and heat duties of the major unit operations. For example, the total water fed to the microchannel steam reformer 102 is 56.6 metric tons/hour. Of this, only 33 metric tons/hour are from an independent water source because of the water capture and reuse within the system. If the water from the exhaust of the stream reformer 102 is also captured, the total amount of freshwater required would be 23.2 metric tons/hour. This represents a net reduction in the total water required of 65%. Table V compares the results from Tables III and IV.

The overall carbon efficiency from converting a stream of natural gas to methanol is slightly more than 60% when a 3-zone isothermal methanol reactor is used with interstage product cooling and liquid recovery is included between each stage. By removing the products after each stage, the overall conversion of the 3-stage reactor can approach 90% at 250 C. This carbon efficiency is competitive with other off-shore stranded gas upgrading schemes for methanol, but lower than a conventional onshore methanol plant. The lower efficiency is a trade-off for a reduced footprint and minimized plant complexity for offshore production. Carbon efficiencies greater than 30% for a plant combining microchannel reaction and microchannel distillation units for production of methanol from natural gas certainly fall within the scope of the present invention.

TABLE IV Temperature Pressure Mass flow Heat Duty Section Unit operation Stream (C.) (bar) (kg/hr) (MW) Reforming Reformer Air inlet #230 129 2.1 151000 Section Fuel inlet #240 40 2.1 14225 Exhaust #252 252 1 165225 Feed (2:1 S:C) 201 23.5 113315 Inlet Product outlet 300 21.9 113315 At reaction 900 22 113 Conditions Methanol Reactor Feed inlet 222 50 80704 Synthesis Section Product Outlet 190 48.8 80704 Steam Generated - Section 1 240 240 33 55250 23.5 Steam Generated - Section 2 240 240 33 19800 7.9 Steam Generated - Section 3 240 240 33 9480 3.8 Subtotal - Steam Generated 84550 Purge Gas #33 30413

TABLE V Isopotential Isopotential Isopotential Reactor without integral with integral Isothermal Temperature, C. HX & Sep HX & Sep (250 C.) Stage 1 250 71.20% 71.20% 71.20% Stage 2 220 67.70% 83.90% 56.60% Stage 3 200 73.00% 81.40% 43.80% Overall   97%   99%   93%

As discussed previously, reclamation of water produced as a byproduct of chemical reactions throughout the plant 100 may be particularly important in certain applications. One source of water comes from the combustion of natural gas with an oxygen source stream within the microchannel steam reformer 102. In an exemplary operating condition, exhaust gas from the steam reformer 102 is cooled to 30° C., where the condensed water is removed by capillary exclusion through a capillary exclusion section such as that shown in FIG. 3. For water capture from the exhaust stream, P₁ is roughly 1,750 Pascal (Pa). The surface tension of water is 0.0728 N/m. A pore 210 radius of roughly 25 microns would allow for a P₂ pressure of 1 lb./in² gauge. For example, a pore 210 radius of roughly 25 microns would allow for a differential pressure of roughly 5,000 Pa to move the liquid to a liquid collection reservoir and pumping station.

Referring to FIG. 1, another source of water that may be reclaimed comes from water that remains after steam methane reformation. Water in the wet syngas product stream is removed at pressure and sent to a collection header for the water coolant stream flowing to the methanol synthesis reactor 104. Water is also captured from the off-gas from the methanol synthesis reactor 104 by the condenser 170. Again, the separation is performed at pressure, where the condensed stream is sent to the water header for the methanol synthesis reactor 104 coolant feed, and the non-condensed stream may be sent to the microchannel distillation unit 118 as a heat source.

Referring to FIG. 17, an exemplary application for the plant 100 of the instant invention is aboard a vessel docked to an off-shore natural gas platform. A plot plan 600 for an integrated methanol production unit of 1,000 metric tons per day has been designed to fit within an 18 m by 15 m deck. Each of the three steam methane reforming assemblies 602 includes a corresponding methanol synthesis reactor section 604. The deck size for each set of one steam methane reformers and two methanol reactor assemblies stacked on top of one another is 3.9 m×1 m by 6.3 m high. The nine assembly stacks fit across 18 m of vessel deck space, where roughly 1 m is allowed between assembly stacks for maintenance access. A set of distillation assemblies 606 requires an approximately 3.9-m by 12-m footprint and is roughly 1 m high. Again, 1 m of deck space is allowed between distillation assemblies for maintenance access. The resulting combination of microchannel units and conventional equipment easily fits within an 18-m by 15-m deck footprint. The plant plot plan also includes a compressor, pumps, control system, additional heat exchangers This is in stark contrast to the deck space that would otherwise be required for non-microchannel technology.

The size of a 1,000 metric tons per day methanol plant with 30 full-scale reactor blocks housed within six assemblies would be 3.9 meters (m)×5.8 m×3.9 m. The complete system for this plant, at the performance values of 18 Watts (W)/square centimeter (cm²) heat flux in the reforming reaction section and roughly 14 m² of area for reaction heat transfer per reactor, would require nine SMR assemblies of five reactors per assembly. Each assembly as integrated for an offshore methanol synthesis reaction system would be roughly 3.9 m (long) by 3.9 m (high) by 1 m (wide).

Referring to FIG. 18, while the primary example discussed above has been for methanol synthesis, the present invention is equally useful for combining multiple unit operations into a single block 500 or multiple subassemblies into an integrated reactor block 500. It may be preferable to assemble an integrated reaction or separation system with multiple unit operations that may use two ore more unique boxes that are stacked and assembled to form a single component after assembly.

In this example, a single feed stream 582 enters the top of the distribution and mixing section 548, while a second feed stream 506 enters from the side and is mixed with sufficient uniformity into the first feed stream 582 prior to entering a reactor section 552. A heat exchange fluid stream 514 enters the reactor section 552 and is in thermal communication with the microchannels of the reaction section 552 in which the chemical reactions are carried out. The resulting product from the reaction section 552 is fed to a separation and heat exchange section 510 that is mated to the end of the reactor section 552, where the heat exchange section 510 includes two product streams 516, 518 exiting therefrom.

Referencing FIG. 5, the sections 548, 552, 510 are fabricated from shim or laminates and are preferentially partially etched to allow the channel flow path to extend all the way to the end of the subassembly in a manner similar to the synthesis reactor 104. The features and thus flow passageways have at least one dimension that is in the microchannel dimension. The outlet of at least one of the fluids extends to the end of the device (as shown in the first and fourth laminates from left to right in the above figure). By extending to the end of the device the flow passageways may be aligned with the flow passageway in the second type of subassembly such that a fluid may travel without substantial flow collection and redistribution. By substantial flow collection and redistribution it is possible that up to 20% of the flow in any one channel, and less than 10% more preferred, and less than 2% still more preferred of the fluid in any one channel would move to a passage way other than the corresponding flow channel in the second assembly. In one embodiment, channels may mostly map one to one from the first and second assemblies, where the fluid exiting each channel in the first subassembly maps to one channel in the second subassembly. In alternate embodiments, the fluid from two or more channels in the first subassembly maps to one channel in the second subassembly. In an alternate embodiment, the fluid from one channel in the first assembly may map to two or more channels in the second subassembly. Fluid does not substantially leak or travel orthogonally in the plenum separating the first and second subassembly to other channels. The fluid does not substantially collect from a multitude of small channels into one large channel that then changes flow direction to redistribute to a second array of channels in the second sub assembly. The first and third sections 548, 510 mate with the second section 552 so that the flow path through all three sections 548, 552, 510 extends throughout without substantial flow consolidation.

There are multiple methods of mating or joining the two assemblies (548 to 552 or 552 to 510) as shown in FIGS. 8-11. In a first embodiment 600 shown in FIG. 8, the channels in the first section 548 or 552 (represented in FIG. 8 as 502) undergo a reduction in channel cross section near the outlet of the channel in the first section 548 or 552 and abuts the inlet to the second section 552 or 510 (represented in FIG. 8 as 504). By this method, the tolerancing of the two channels is eased such that the precise placement of the first channel next to the second channel in the first and second sections respectively may have a larger degree of error and still create an unobstructed connection between fluid channels in the first and second sections.

Referring to FIG. 9, in a second exemplary embodiment 602, the flow channels on the first section do not have a reduction in cross section at a local point, but rather have a smaller cross section all through the flow length in the first assembly such that at the connection point the channel dimension of one of the channels in the first and second subassembly are smaller than the other to ease the challenge of alignment.

Referring to FIG. 10, in a third exemplary embodiment 604, the fluid channels for the first section are designed to create a groove that extends in the metal between the channels such that the groove fits over the waveform for positive alignment. The groove would be oversized from the tongue such that alignment would be straightforward.

Referring to FIG. 11, in a fourth exemplary embodiment 606, an open plenum separates the fluid channels between the first and second sections. For this example, the fluid travels substantially straight from the first to the second sections. The fluid does not substantially redistribute within plenum that separates the first and second subassembly. The fluid maps in a regular manner from channel to channel between subassemblies or from one channel to two or more or from two or more channels to one respectively between the first and second sections.

An additional advantage for the joining of two sections, even two sections made in the same style but joined after each individual section is joined may rise from the ease of catalyst or sorbent integration. The ability to break a device at a point other than an end may enable the use of adding or removing and reloading a catalyst or sorbent. This approach may also make possible the use of replacing a core of a reactor or sorbent without losing parts of the section. If the catalyst in the second section were to become fused and unable to be removed from the second section, then a new section or second section could be added or integrated with the old first section to put the device back into service. This approach may also be useful for single phase or multiphase applications. Unit operations that may be advantaged by this approach include chemical reactions, heat exchange, mixing, fluid distribution, separations, distillation, absorption, adsorption, classification, and others.

It is also within the scope of the invention for one or more integrated microchannel unit operation blocks to be housed within a pressurized containment vessel. Exemplary vessels include those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/774,298 (U.S. 2005/0175519 published on Aug. 11, 2005), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and that changes may be made to such embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein. 

1. A process for the formation of methanol, the process comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a first feed stream comprising carbon containing molecules and hydrogen containing molecules to a first microchannel reactor; (b) inputting a second feed stream comprising carbon containing molecules and hydrogen containing molecules to a second microchannel reactor, where the second microchannel reactor is in parallel with the first microchannel reactor; (c) reacting the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules in the presence of a catalyst housed within the first microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a first process stream; (d) reacting the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules in the presence of a catalyst housed within the second microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a second process stream; (e) directing the first process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (f) directing the second process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (g) cooling the first process stream within the downstream heat exchanger to condense at least one chemical comprising the first process stream; (h) extracting the chemical from the first process stream to form a cooled gaseous process stream; (i) directing the second process stream into thermal communication with the cooled gaseous process stream to increase the temperature and form an elevated temperature gaseous process stream having carbon containing molecules and the hydrogen containing molecules; (j) inputting elevated temperature gaseous process stream to a downstream microchannel reactor; and (k) reacting the carbon containing molecules with the hydrogen containing molecules in the presence of a catalyst housed within downstream microchannel reactor to form methanol molecules flowing in a downstream process stream.
 2. A process for the formation of a chemical product, the process comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a first feed stream comprising reactants to a first microchannel reactor; (b) inputting a second feed stream comprising reactants to a second microchannel reactor, where the second microchannel reactor is in parallel with the first micro channel reactor; (c) reacting at least some of the reactants in the presence of a catalyst housed within the first microchannel reactor to form product flowing in a first process stream; (d) reacting at least some of the reactants in the presence of a catalyst housed within the second microchannel reactor to form product flowing in a second process stream; (e) directing the first process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (f) directing the second process stream to a downstream heat exchanger; (g) cooling the first process stream within the downstream heat exchanger to condense at least one chemical comprising the first process stream; (h) extracting the chemical from the first process stream to form a cooled gaseous process stream; (i) directing the second process stream into thermal communication with the cooled gaseous process stream to increase the temperature and form an elevated temperature gaseous process stream including remaining reactants; (j) inputting elevated temperature gaseous process stream to a downstream microchannel reactor; and (k) reacting at least some of the remaining reactants in the presence of a catalyst housed within a downstream microchannel reactor to form product flowing in a downstream process stream.
 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the feed stream to the microchannel reactor does not include a recycle stream.
 4. The process of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first microchannel reactor and the second microchannel reactor includes discrete stages.
 5. The process of claim 4, wherein at least one of the discrete stages does not include a recycle stream.
 6. The process of claim 2, wherein: the feed stream flowing through the first microchannel reactor contacts the catalyst in step (c) between about 1000 milliseconds to about 10 milliseconds; and the feed stream flowing through the second microchannel reactor contacts the catalyst in step (d) between about 1000 milliseconds to about 10 milliseconds.
 7. The process of claim 2, further comprising: (l) removing at least a portion of the product from the first process stream subsequent to egress of the product from the first micro channel reactor; and (m) removing at least a portion of the product from the second process stream subsequent to egress of the product from the second micro channel reactor.
 8. The process of claim 7, wherein: step (l) is at least partially carried out within a distillation unit operation; at least one output stream from the distillation unit operation is a product rich stream; and at least a second output stream from the distillation unit operation is a product lean stream.
 9. The process of claim 2, wherein at least step (c) and step (d) are carried out within a containment vessel.
 10. The process of claim 2, further comprising: (l) removing at least a portion of the product from the first process stream subsequent to egress of the product from the first microchannel reactor; and (m) delivering a fuel stream to a stream reformer unit operation to generate energy necessary to carry out an endothermic steam reformation reaction on a hydrocarbon rich stream entering the steam reformer; wherein step (l) is at least partially carried out in a separator that interposes the steam reformer and the first microchannel reactor, the separator being operative to remove at least one component from a fuel rich stream exiting from the steam reformer unit operation, resulting in the fuel stream delivered to the steam reformer unit operation.
 11. The process of claim 10, wherein: the at least one component includes water; and the water removed by the separator is utilized as a cooling fluid flowing through the downstream heat exchanger of the first microchannel reactor.
 12. The process of claim 2, wherein: the first feed stream is supplied by a natural gas steam reforming process carried out within a steam reformer; and a heat exchanger interposes the steam reformer and the first microchannel reactor to remove energy from the first feed stream prior to entering the first microchannel reactor.
 13. The process of claim 2, wherein: the chemical of step (h) includes methanol; and step (h) includes utilization of at least one of a microchannel distillation unit, a capillary separation unit, and a microchannel membrane separation unit to remove at least some of the chemical from the first process stream.
 14. The process of claim 2, wherein the reactants of the first feed stream comprise syngas from a natural gas stream reforming process. 